Cyclone Mandous: Cyclone Mandous began its landfall in Tamil Nadu as heavy rains with strong winds were witnessed in Pattinapakkam area of Chennai on Friday (December 9).
Here are the details relatde to Cyclone Mandous: READ
Schools, colleges shut:
The Tamil Nadu Education Department declared holiday on Saturday (December 10) for schools and colleges in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Villupuram, Kancheepuram, Cuddallore and Ranipet districts. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has declared rains in these districts of Tamil Nadu and issued a red alert in Kancheepuram, Chengalapattu, and Villupuram.
Dindigul Collector has also declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Sirumalai and Kodaikanal for Saturday. Light to moderate rainfall with heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places is expected on late Friday and Saturday.
Flights cancelled:
Several flights were cancelled at Chennai airport due to adverse weather conditions arising due to cyclone Mandous, informed officials today (December 9). A total of around 13 flights arriving from and departing to various locations were cancelled. The officials also advised the general masses to check with the concerned airlines in view of the flights affected due to the extreme weather conditions.
"Kindly take note of the Flight cancellations at Chennai Intl Airport on 09.12.2022 due to adverse weather conditions forecasted. Passengers are requested to check with concerned airline(s) for further updates. #Chennai #MandousCyclone #Mandous@AAI_Official@pibchennai," tweeted the Chennai (MAA) Airport.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Metrology Centre, S Balachandran said, "Heavy rainfall in Chennai today and tomorrow as Cyclone Mandous further expected to move North-West direction and expected to cross Puducherry and Sriharikota by tonight or early morning."
In view of cyclone Mandous maintaining its intensity of 'Severe Cyclonic Storm' till the early morning hours today, the National Disaster Response Force team were kept on standby in Chennai, informed officials on Friday. The officials added that the teams were ready with equipment so as to take note of any untoward incident."NDRF is ready to face the Mandous Cyclone situation in Chennai.
The NDRF team in Chennai Adayar Indra Nagar has been placed ready where they have packed rescue materials to move when a tough situation arises. Once the alert from state officials is communicated NDRF team will move immediately to the needed spot," said Sub-Inspector NDRF, Sandeep Kumar.
The NDRF officials also added that numerous pieces of equipment like boats, High voltage motors, Sucker machines, Cutter machines etc were kept ready for rescue operations. The preparations came in the wake of the Mandous Cyclone's likeliness to become severe and gather more intensity.
Earlier three districts of Tamil Nadu were given a red alert, informed officials. The districts that are on alert include Chengalpattu, Villupuram and Kancheepuram.
"It is very likely to maintain its intensity of Severe Cyclonic Storm till early morning of today, the 9th December and then weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm thereafter. It would continue to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamilnadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Sriharikota around Mahabalipuram as a cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph during midnight of today, the 09th December to early hours of 10th December," read an official statement by India Meteorological Department.
The officials also informed that under the cyclone's influence most places over the north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are likely to have heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places.
Cyclone will continue to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamilnadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts b/w Puducherry and Sriharikota around Mahabalipuram as a cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph during midnight, informed officials.
"It is likely to reduce to Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places likely over north Tamil Nadu on 10th December 2022," added the statement.Earlier, the Greater Chennai Corporation issued precautionary measures and ordered to close all parks and playgrounds till further notice.
The Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner had a discussion with officials regarding precautionary measures to be taken in view Mandous Cyclone. Also, Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran and senior officials of the Disaster Management Department held a meeting at the State Emergency Operation Centre at Chepauk in view of Cyclone Mandous today.
Tamil Nadu CM meeting:
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin held a meeting with Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran and other senior officials of the Disaster Management Department in view of Cyclone Mandous at Chepauk.
"All precautionary measures have been taken by government and the officers are regularly monitoring the situation. Government will ensure protection of the people. District-wise monitoring of the cyclone is being done. I request people to follow govt orders & cooperate with us," said CM MK Stalin.
NDRF on standby amid alerts in Chennai:
In view of the cyclone Mandous maintaining its intensity of 'Severe Cyclonic Storm' till the early morning hours today, the National Disaster Response Force team were kept on standby in Chennai, informed officials on Friday. The officials added that the teams were ready with equipment so as to take note of any untoward incident.
"NDRF is ready to face the Mandous Cyclone situation in Chennai. The NDRF team in Chennai Adayar Indra Nagar has been placed ready where they have packed rescue materials to move when a tough situation arises. Once the alert from state officials is communicated NDRF team will move immediately to the needed spot," said Sub-Inspector NDRF, Sandeep Kumar.The NDRF officials also added that numerous pieces of equipment like boats, High voltage motors, Sucker machines, Cutter machines etc were kept ready for rescue operations.The preparations came in the wake of the Mandous Cyclone's likeliness to become severe and gather more intensity.Earlier three districts of Tamil Nadu were given a red alert, informed officials. The districts that are on alert include Chengalpattu, Villupuram and Kancheepuram.
"It is very likely to maintain its intensity of Severe Cyclonic Storm till early morning of today, the 9th December and then weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm thereafter. It would continue to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamilnadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Sriharikota around Mahabalipuram as a cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph during midnight of today, the 09th December to early hours of 10th December," read an official statement by India Meteorological Department.The officials also informed that under the cyclone's influence most places over the north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are likely to have heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places.
Cyclone will continue to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamilnadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts b/w Puducherry and Sriharikota around Mahabalipuram as a cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph during midnight, informed officials."It is likely to reduce to Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places likely over north Tamil Nadu on 10th December 2022," added the statement.Earlier, the Greater Chennai Corporation issued precautionary measures and ordered to close all parks and playgrounds till further notice.The Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner had a discussion with officials regarding precautionary measures to be taken in view Mandous Cyclone.
Train services in Chennai:
Chennai Division of Southern Railway has announced that suburban trains in Chennai may be cancelled or rescheduled if necessary to prevent untoward incidents.
Water to be released from TN's Chembarambakkam, Poondi lakes:
With Cyclone 'Mandous' intensifying into a cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal and expected to touch land at Mamallapuram in Chennai, light to heavy rain was lashing across Tamil Nadu. It has been raining heavily since Thursday night in Chennai and surrounding areas and the water levels in Chembarambakkam and Poondi reservoirs were rising. The authorities have decided that surplus water be released from Chembarambakkam and Poondi reservoirs from 12 p.m. onwards on Friday.
Surplus water was to be released at 100 cubic feet per second from Chembarambakkam, Poondi and Puzhal reservoirs. The Chennai district authorities have warned people living in certain low-lying areas of Chennai to be cautious as water would be released from the lakes.
The Greater Chennai Corporation has already put in place rescue workers. including the NDRF teams to handle any emergency situation arising out of the cyclonic storm that is likely to touch the land by Friday night. Tangedco has also put in place a team of engineers, supervisors, and other field staff to prevent any untoward incidents related to the breaking of power lines during heavy rain and storm. The revenue authorities have already readied tree cutters and cable workers to remove the trees in case they get uprooted during the storm and rain.
(With agencies inputs)
ALSO READ: Cyclone Mandous: Three districts on high alert, schools shut amid heavy rain warning in Tamil Nadu
